2017 is here, which means we're all granted another opportunity for the cultural phenomenon of “New Year's Resolutions.” I don't know who started resolutions, but at one time or another we've all convinced ourselves that the expression “New Year, New Me” is going to withstand the stereotypes of failed resolutions. Whether it's eating healthy, working out, or quitting a bad habit, New Year's resolutions always seem to fizzle out in a month or two.

I don't think resolutions are necessarily a bad thing, in fact, I think the tradition of committing to better ourselves every year is pretty awesome.

The problem with resolutions is that people rely exclusively on motivation and neglect determination.

Motivation is fleeting. It's a great feeling for when you need to do your laundry or clean the house, but everyone knows that you can only stay motivated for so long. The same principle applies for New Years resolutions. Why do you think that people only show up to the gym for the first two months after New Years? Their intentions are perfect, but eventually they just run out of gas.

As soon as motivation runs out, that's where determination needs to come in.

Motivation is telling yourself “I can do this.”

Determination is telling yourself “I will do this.”

Another way to look at this relationship is to imagine you need to build a fire. When you start a fire, you need to get tinder. Tinder is easy to find, lightweight and catches fire quickly. It's necessary, but you can't keep a fire going without more fuel. After your fire is started, you have to get logs to burn. Wood is a little tougher to get. It's heavy, cumbersome and much harder to light. It might take two or three times before you get it to catch fire and if you're not careful, you can ruin the whole flame with too much wood.

Do you see what I'm getting at here?

Motivation is your tinder. It's easy to get, it burns hot and it runs out quickly. Determination is your wood. It's heavy, takes hard work and lasts much longer.

So how do we take our motivated resolutions and turn them into determined resolutions?

The first step is to organize and schedule your goals. If you want to go to the gym more often, include it in your calendar or planner. When you write down and schedule what you're going to do and when you're going to do it, you add a level of commitment to your goals which helps combat a lack of motivation.

The second step is to add incentives to your goals. It's okay to reward yourself for doing good things! Knowing that an incentive is on the table can help extend your motivation and it adds a second layer of benefits to whatever way you're improving yourself.

The last and probably most important step is to have someone who can keep you accountable. If you want to work out more, get a workout partner or join a fitness group. If you're trying to eat healthier, ask your roommate, best friend, spouse, or anyone you're close with to join you. Making your goals into a social event not only adds enjoyment to the experience, but it allows you and your partner to work with each other to stay determined.

Resolutions aren't overrated and they really can work, so don't let people tell you that resolutions are stupid. Being better is never stupid. Whether it's working out or learning to dance, the only way to grow is to be uncomfortable.

There's no fluff and no dressing it up. The key to achieving your goals is determination.

So go out and do it.